March 2, 2014 1

“in pursuit of PIA’s commitment to provide a national mechanism for the free flow of timely, accurate and relevant information… “

VOL 2 ISSUE 51 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 March 2, 2014

A griculture Secretar y Proceso Alcala was in Tanauan,

Leyte recent ly, as par t of h is cont inuous monitor ing of the ongoing mass ive rehabi l i tat ion ef for ts being conduc ted by the Depar tment of Agr iculture, i ts bureaus, and attached agencies and corporat ions. I n h is v is i t to Tanauan, Leyte, S ecretar y Alcala met with the farmers, f i sher folk and other key par tners with the main purpose of l i s tening to and attending to their most bas ic needs and concerns in the af termath of the Super Typhoon Yolanda. Mayor Pelagio “Pel” Tecson welcomed the agr iculture chief and br iefed him on the ex tent of damage to agr i - f i sher y sec tor in the munic ipal i t y of Tanauan. At the farmers’ forum, Secretar y Alcala heard for h imsel f the issues and concerns of farmers in the af termath of t yphoon Yolanda. Farmers lamented on damaged communal and nat ional i r r igat ion fac i l i t ies, inc luding the poss ibi l i t y of exempting the farmers f rom i r r igat ion ser v ice fees within t wo years.

DA secretary dialogues with, distributes rehab assistance to Yolanda-hit farmers in TanauanThe 2014 Women’s Month

Celebration this month of March with the theme “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong” pays tribute to the strong and resilient “Juanas” who brought inspiring changes here in the country and across the globe. The Philippine Commission on Women, the national machinery for gender equality and women’s empowerment, which spearheads the month-long celebration, said that with the recent geological, socio-economic and political upheavals that shook the country last year, 2014 brings a new continued on page 5

continued on page 7

ray of hope that will pave the way for healing, recovery and reconciliation. The PCW said that from the Zamboanga crisis to the pork barrel scandal, the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu, and the strongest typhoon history has ever recorded, and many disaster in other parts of the country, the Filipino spirit remains indomitable and unbowed. These challenges have united the nation and inspired everyone to take part in recovery and rehabilitation processes. People from all walks of life and across the world extended all

2014 Women’s Month Celebration pays tribute to strong, resilient women who brought inspiring changes here, across the globe

President Benigno S. Aquino poses with cabinet secretaries and guests after the groundbreaking ceremony of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Cabalawan, Tacloban City, February 25. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

2 March 2, 2014

P-Noy directs DA and PCA to conduct aerial survey of affected farms in Leyte

P r e s i d e n t B e n i g n o S . A q u i n o I I I d i r e c t e d A g r i c u l t u r e

S e c r e t a r y Pr o c e s o A l c a l a a n d P C A A d m i n i s t r a t o r E u c l i d e s Fo r b e s t o c o n d u c t a n a e r i a l s u r v e y o f t h e a f f e c t e d f a r m s i n Le y t e . W h i l e i n Ta n a u a n , Le y t e m e e t i n g w i t h f a r m e r s o n Fe b r u a r y 2 7 , S e c r e t a r y A l c a l a r e c e i v e d a c a l l f r o m Pr e s i d e n t A q u i n o d i r e c t i n g h i m a n d P C A A d m i n i s t r a t o r E u c l i d e s Fo r b e s t o c o n d u c t a n a e r i a l s u r v e y o f t h e a f f e c t e d f a r m a r e a s i n Le y t e . T h e Pr e s i d e n t w a n t e d t o f a s t t r a c k t h e c l e a r i n g o p e r a t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y o n t h e

f e l l e d a n d s c a t t e r e d c o c o n u t t r e e s l y i n g u n t o u c h e d a l l o v e r t h e a f f e c t e d f a r m a r e a s a s p a r t o f t h e r e c o v e r y a n d r e h a b i l i t a t i o n e f f o r t s o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t . I t m a y b e r e c a l l e d t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s e a r l i e r o r d e r e d t h e r e l e a s e o f P 2 . 8 b i l l i o n f o r t h e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f c o c o n u t f a r m s , a m o n g t h e h a r d e s t h i t b y s u p e r t y p h o o n Yo l a n d a , i n a l l a f f e c t e d a r e a s . A c c o r d i n g t o P C A m o r e t h a n 1 3 m i l l i o n c o c o n u t t r e e s w e r e t o t a l l y d a m a g e d i n t y p h o o n - a f f e c t e d a r e a s , w i t h Le y t e a c c o u n t i n g f o r t h e b u l k .

I n t h e p r o v i n c e o f Le y t e , r o u g h l y t h r e e - q u a r t e r s o f c o c o n u t t r e e s , o r 9 , 6 9 0 , 9 9 1 o u t o f 1 2 , 6 0 0 , 4 1 6 , w e r e t o t a l l y d a m a g e d b y t h e N o v. 8 t y p h o o n , w i t h l o s s e s e s t i m a t e d a t P 1 0 , 0 4 2 , 8 4 4 , 6 5 0 . T h e P C A , m e a n w h i l e , a l s o r e c o m m e n d e d t o A g r i c u l t u r e S e c r e t a r y Pr o c e s o A l c a l a t o i n c r e a s e f r o m 3 0 0 t o 1 , 0 0 0 t h e n u m b e r o f c h a i n s a w s m o b i l i z e d f o r c u t t i n g a l l t h e d a m a g e d c o c o n u t t r e e s i n o r d e r t o s p e e d u p t h e w o r k . T h e P 2 . 8 - b i l l i o n b u d g e t f o r r e h a b i l i t a t i o n i s b r o k e n d o w n i n t o : P 2 8 0 m i l l i o n f o r c l e a r i n g o p e r a t i o n s ; P 1 . 6 b i l l i o n f o r t h e p r o c u r e m e n t o f f e r t i l i z e r s , i n c l u d i n g t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a n d t h e d e l i v e r y c o s t ; P 5 0 0 m i l l i o n f o r t h e r e p l a n t i n g p r o g r a m ; a n d P 5 0 0 m i l l i o n f o r i n t e r c r o p p i n g i n c o m e a u g m e n t a t i o n . ( P I A 8 )

Tanauan mayor presents rehab plan to Agriculture secretary

M a y o r P e l a g i o Te c s o n , J r . o f Ta n a u a n , L e y t e p r e s e n t e d

t h e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p l a n o f t h e M u n i c i p a l i t y t o A g r i c u l t u r e S e c r e t a r y P r o c e s o A l c a l a d u r i n g t h e l a t t e r ’s v i s i t o n F e b r u a r y 2 7 . T h e l o c a l c h i e f e x e c u t i v e a p p e a l e d f o r m o r e f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t f o r t h e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f t h e t o w n ’s p u b l i c m a r k e t /f o o d t e r m i n a l a n d s l a u g h t e r h o u s e . I n r e s p o n s e , t h e S e c r e t a r y t o l d t h e M a y o r t o s u b m i t p r o j e c t p r o p o s a l s f o r t h e D A a n d o t h e r c o n c e r n e d a g e n c i e s t o c o n s i d e r a n d t o a l l o c a t e f u n d s f o r t h i s p u r p o s e . S e c r e t a r y A l c a l a s a i d , t h e r e i s n o d o u b t t h a t A g r i c u l t u r e i s o n e o f t h e e c o n o m i c p i l l a r s i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a g e n d a o f L e y t e a n d t h e r e s t o f t h e p r o v i n c e s i n R e g i o n 8 . T h e e n t i r e R e g i o n a s a b e n e f i c i a r y o f n u m e r o u s a g r i c u l t u r e p r o g r a m s f r o m n a t i o n a l g o v e r n m e n t i s c o n t r i b u t i n g a n a v e r a g e

6 . 7 % t o i n d u s t r y g r o w t h w i t h u n p r e c e d e n t e d i n c r e a s e i n r i c e p r o d u c t i o n a n d s u f f i c i e n c y i n t h e r e g i o n .T h e D A c h i e f i s c o m m i t t e d t o c o n t i n u e t h e A g e n c y ’s p r o g r a m f o r t h e f a r m e r s , f i s h e r f o l k s a n d c o c o n u t f a r m e r s a s p a r t o f t h e l i v e l i h o o d c o m p o n e n t i n e a r l y r e c o v e r y e f f o r t s i n t h e p r o v i n c e . E a r l i e r i n t h e d a y, S e c r e t a r y A l c a l a t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e n a t i o n a l a n d l o c a l o f f i c i a l s o f t h e B u r e a u o f F i s h e r i e s a n d A q u a t i c R e s o u r c e s a l s o s p e a r h e a d e d t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f m o r e t h a n 5 0 0 u n i t s o f m o t o r i z e d a n d n o n - m o t o r i z e d b a n c a s t o t h e d i s p l a c e d f i s h e r f o l k o f P a l o , Ta n a u a n , To l o s a , i n L e y t e ; B a s e y a n d S a n t a R i t a i n S a m a r. A l s o , t h e r e w e r e f i s h i n g g e a r s a n d o t h e r p a r a p h e r n a l i a w h i c h w e r e d i s t r i b u t e d o r t u r n e d o v e r t o i t s b e n e f i c i a r i e s . ( P I A 8 )

March 2, 2014 3DA secretary names BFAR National director as his alter ego in Eastern Visayas

B ureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources National Director

Atty. Asis Perez has been designated by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala as his alter ego to oversee the rehabilitation efforts of the Agency in Eastern Visayas. This was learned when in a presscon and luncheon meeting at the DA-Regional Office recently, Secretary Alcala introduced BFAR National Director Asis Perez as his alter ego who will act as Special Supervising Officer to oversee the rehabilitation efforts in Eastern Visayas. As such, Secretary Alcala said, Director Asis will coordinate and facil itate the overall rehab operations among all heads of offices of DA line agencies in Eastern Visayas. These include the National I rr igation Administration, Phil ippine Coconut Authority, National Food Authority, the Philippine Fiber Development Authority, Phil ippine Carabao Center, Agricultural Training Institute, National Meat Inspection Services, Phil ippine Crop Insurance Corporation, QuedanCor, and the Land Bank of the Philippines. To recall, Secretary was in Leyte, just two days after his Guiuan, Eastern Samar visit, in order to dialogue and meet with the fisher folks, farmers and coconut farmers and other stakeholders in the province. Earlier in the day, Secretary Alcala together with the national and local officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also spearheaded the distribution of more than 500 units of motorized and non-motorized bancas to the displaced fisher folk of Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, in Leyte; Basey and Santa Rita in Samar. Also earlier that day, the Secretary Secretary Alcala,

together with PCA Administrator Euclides Forbes, turned over a total of P8.1 mill ion worth of various agricultural projects and farm needs to the Yolanda hit farmers of Tanauan. These include 75 bags of hybrid seeds, 392 bags of certif ied seeds, 40 bags of Registered seeds, 392 bags of Urea ferti l izer, 15 kgs vegetable seeds, and 3, 500 pieces HVC planting materials. They also distributed 10 units hand tractors and 500 head of ducks. Moreover, the DA Secretary also led in the distribution of coconut seedlings, and livestock. Furthermore, to the delight of those present, they raffled off f ive (5) carabaos with plow, 30 sets of assorted garden tools, 20 units knapsack sprayer and five (5) units of pump and engine for the establishment of shallow tube wells (ST Ws). (PIA 8)

DA Secretary Proceso Alcala (with mic) and BFAR Director General Asis Perez (right) listen to the concerns raised by typhoon Yolanda-affected fisherfolks from Basey, Sta. Rita, Tolosa, Tanauan, Palo, and Tacloban in a dialogue held at the Balyuan Ampitheater in Tacloban City on February 27 before the turn-over of fishing boats to identified beneficiaries. (Raul Tiozon, Jr./PIA-8)

www.pia.gov.ph

4 March 2, 2014

L t. Col . Nedy Espulgar, commanding of f icer of

the 19th I nfantr y Batta l ion, commended the Land Bank Countr ys ide Development Foundat ion I ncorporated, saying that i ts program wi l l fu l ly benef i t the former rebels in Leyte. Lt . Col . Espulgar made the commendat ion af ter attending the fol low up workshop on “Sustainable I ntegrated Organic and Natural M ini Farm Program” held at B lanco Farm, So. Marag-ing, Brgy. Lemon, Capoocan, Leyte on Fr iday, Februar y 28, a statement f rom the 19th IB stated. Lt . Col . Espulgar was among the 81 par t ic ipants of the workshop , inc luding the 15 former rebels who the mi l i tar y has been ass ist ing s ince they returned to the folds of the law. The workshop provides oppor tunit ies to the par t ic ipants

to learn more on organic farming techniques especia l ly to former rebels who had been accustomed to pr imit ive farming methods. I t was fac i l i tated by M r. Gi l Carandang, the countr y ’s “Father of Organic Farming” and Land Bank Direc tor Domingo Diaz . According to M r. Carandang, organic farming wi l l f ree, even smal l farmers f rom the burden of r is ing pr ices of bas ic commodit ies. “Smal l farmers can even ut i l ize their back yards in this farming method,” M r. Carandang stressed. On top of these, the mi l i tar y is hopeful that the program wi l l last so as to benef i t more, not just the farmers but a lso the former rebels who has long denounced the bloody armed struggle. (P IA 8)

LBP farming program to fully benefit former rebels in Leyte

Biliran updates hotel operators on updates, trends in tourism industry

S ome 18 hotel operators in B i l i ran province and the

munic ipal tour ism off icers attended the annual meet ing of Hotels , I nns, Lodging Houses Operators ca l led by the Provincia l Tour ism and I nformation O ff ice at the Provincia l Capitol held at the provincia l capitol recent ly. The annual gather ing was a imed to update the hotel operators and owners in the province on the current t rends and developments in the tour ism industr y. Par t of the agenda of the meet ing was to require the operators and owners of hotels to render a monthly repor t of tour ist stat ist ics l ike domest ic and foreign tour ists who v is i t the province. I n attendance to sa id meet ing were operators and owners or their representat ives of the VRC Beach Resor t ; ASEMCO Hostel in Almer ia , B i l i ran ; Alegre Beach Resor t in Culaba, B i l i ran; Mar vin’s Seas ide I nn in Naval ; Paradizu Beach Resor t in Brgy. Talahid, Almer ia ; ERBJ Lodging, NSU hostel in Naval ; C la i re’s Pension House in Cabucgayan; Hagdan Beach Resor t in the is land town of H igatangan, Naval ; Trani ’s G arden in Brgy. Bato, Naval and the Red Stone Vi l le Resor t in S i t io Pulang-bato, Almer ia . I n an inter v iew with Dionis io Ol iva , J r. Provincia l Tour ism and I nformation O ff icer, he informed that the annual meet ing was l ikewise cal led to motivate hotel operators and owners to submit regular ly their monthly repor t on the number of tour ists who check- in in hotels

continued on page 5

President Benigno S. Aquino leads the groundbreaking of the Memorial in honor of those who perished in Supertyphoon Yolanda and the rehabilitation of the Tanauan Public Plaza, February 25. With the President are (l-r) Leyte governor Dominico Petilla, Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery secretary Panfilo Lacson, Double Dragon president Ferdinand Sia and Tanauan mayor Pelagio Tecson. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

March 2, 2014 5

2014 Women’s...from page 1

kinds of help they could offer. Efforts, regardless of how small or significant they were, did not go unnoticed. The 2014 Women’s Month Celebration is the best time to highlight the “drivers of change” who untiringly volunteered themselves in times of disaster, conflict and calamity, a statement from the PCW stated. This celebration recognizes the role of women in the rehabilitation process and their over-all contributions to progress, PCW added. The objectives of this year’s celebration is to recognize women’s resiliency, strengths and contributions

ROK joint support group repairs another house of a Filipino Korean war veteranT h e R e p u b l i c o f K o r e a J o i n t

S u p p o r t G r o u p A R AW C o n t i n g e n t , t u r n e d o v e r r e c e n t l y a n e w l y r e p a i r e d h o u s e o f a n o t h e r Fi l i p i n o K o r e a n w a r v e t e r a n . S o f i o T. Lo b r i g o, 8 5 y e a r s o l d o f B r g y. D i s t r i c t 9 , D a g a m i Le y t e w a s a l l s m i l e o n Fr i d a y Fe b r u a r y 2 8 a s t h e A r a w Fo r c e s t u r n e d o v e r a n e w l y r e p a i r e d h o u s e . A c c o r d i n g t o Lo b r i g o, h e w a s j u s t h o p i n g t h a t t h e K o r e a n s w i l l h e l p h i m h a v e a n a i r i n g a i d b u t h e g o t m o r e . “ S o m e 6 3 y e a r s a f t e r I f o u g h t i n K o r e a , n e v e r i n m y w i l d e s t d r e a m t h a t t h i s w i l l h a p p e n . B u t o n e d a y a f t e r Yo l a n d a I s a w o f t h e K o r e a n c a r p a r k e d i n f r o n t o f D a g a m i c h u r c h ,” Lo b r i g o s a i d . W h e n h e s a w t h e c o n t i n g e n t h e t o l d t h e g r o u p t h a t h e w a s p a r t o f t h e Fi l i p i n o s o l d i e r s w h o f o u g h t i n t h e K o r e a n w a r. T h e K o r e a n s t o o k h i s p i c t u r e a n d t h e y p a r t e d t h e i r w a y s . S o m e f i v e d a y s l a t e r t h e y

to progress and to discuss Philippine gains, gaps and challenges in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action. Among the proposed activities are the Learning Session on Gender Fair Media on March 3 at Malacang, the Women’s Human Symbol Forming - March 8, 2014, Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park Manila, and the GADtimpala, the search for the most outstanding gender-responsive government agency at the national level, among others. (PIA 8)

w e n t b a c k a n d i n f o r m e d h i m o f t h e g r o u p’s p l a n o f r e p a i r i n g h i s d a m a g e d h o u s e . Lo b r i g o s a i d t h a t t h e K o r e a n s w e n t b a c k t o h i s h o u s e , b r o u g h t m a t e r i a l s , r e p a i r e d h i s h o u s e a n d t h e y d i d i t i n t w o w e e k s . T h e A r a w f o r c e s r e p a i r e d t h e r o o f i n g, t h e f l o o r i n g s , t h e b e d r o o m s , a n d e v e n t h e e x t e n s i o n o f t h e h o u s e a n d t h e k i t c h e n i n c l u d i n g t h e e l e c t r i c a l w i r i n g s o f t h e h o u s e a n d t h e r e p a i n t i n g. A n o t h e r s i g n i f i c a n t t h i n g t h a t t h e K o r e a n d i d w i t h r e p a i r w a s t o p u t u p a p a r t i t i o n i n t h e h o u s e f o r Lo b r i g o h a v e a n o f f i c e o f h i s o w n a s h e i s t h e d i s t r i c t c o m m a n d e r o f t h e Ve t e r a n s Fe d e r a t i o n i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s i n t h e 2 n d d i s t r i c t o f Le y t e . Lo b r i g o w a s 2 2 y e a r s o l d w h e n h e w a s s e n t t o K o r e a s a i d t h a t h e d i d n o t e x p e c t t h a t a f t e r 6 3 y e a r s t h e K o r e a n s w i l l g i v e h i m s u c h i m p o r t a n c e . “ I a m v e r y t h a n k f u l t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t o f K o r e a a n d a t

t h e s a m e t i m e t o a l l t h e o f f i c e r s a n d e n l i s t e d m e n w h o m a d e i t p o s s i b l e f o r m y h o m e t o l o o k l i k e t h i s n o w ” s a i d t h e o b v i o u s l y h a p p y Lo b r i g o. T h e K o r e a n f o r c e s a l s o b r o u g h t t h a t d a y 2 b oxe s o f n o o d l e s a n d 2 b oxe s o f c o o k i e s a n d b o t t l e d w a t e r f o r Lo b r i g o. T h e f a m i l y o f Lo b r i g o i n r e t u r n a n d a s s i g n o f t h e i r g r a t i t u d e p r e p a r e d n a t i v e f o o d s a n d d e l i c a c i e s s u c h a s m o r o n , b i n a g o l o f d a g a m i a n d t h e r o a s t e d p i g o r l e c h o n , f o r t h e K o r e a n s a n d t h e A F P E n g i n e e r i n g b r i g a d e . Fr o m a r e l i a b l e s o u r c e , t h e R O K s p e n t a l m o s t 2 0 t h o u s a n d U S d o l l a r e q u i v a l e n t t o a l m o s t 8 0 0 t h o u s a n d p e s o s f o r t h e r e p a i r. L a s t m o n t h t h e R O K j o i n t s u p p o r t g r o u p a l s o r e p a i r e d t h e h o u s e o f a n o t h e r Fi l i p i n o K o r e a n w a r v e t e r a n i n C a r i g a r a , Le y t e w i t h i n t w o w e e k s t h e g r o u p i s h o p i n g t o f i n i s h t h e r e p a i r o f a n o t h e r v e t e r a n i n Ta c l o b a n C i t y. ( P I A 8 w i t h L i z b e t h A n n A b e l l a )

and lodging houses and v is i t the is land province, especia l ly those coming f rom other par ts of the wor ld. The province of B i l i ran which is considered an is land paradise, has a lot of natural tour ist attrac t ions to of fer to tour ists both local and foreign. He fur ther expla ined that this i s par t of the intensive ef for t of the provincia l government of B i l i ran to promote the tour ism industr y, the province being declared as a tour ism zone. (P IA Bi l i ran)

Biliran...from page 4

6 March 2, 2014

BFAR AHON surpasses 10,000 boats target in three months

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) AHON program

surpassed the 10,000 boats target that exceed to 10,506 units just in three months. According to BFAR National Director Asis Perez, the AHON! Sampung libong Bangka para sa Dalawampung libong Pamilya, a boat building initiative of BFAR has already reached more than

100 percent of its goal since it was launched in November last year. For Eastern Visayas, a total of 8,069 units or seventy five percent of the total number of fishing boats, while in region four 213 units, 1,144 in region six, and 1080 units in region seven were repaired and or being constructed. “This project will not be made possible without the help of the AHON

partners from private sector, and the cooperation of the beneficiaries,” said Asis. Federico Sevilla and his wife Yolanda Sevilla together with their friends donated more than 180 boats, Japanese donor represented by Yuki Iito donated 269 units intended for the towns of Basey and Sta. Rita, Samar, SOCSARGEN Organization gave 256 boats in Bagacay, Tacloban City, and Taal Lake Aquaculture Alliance, Incorporated also donated 56 units of boats although the original target was only 25 boats. Meanwhile, thousands of fisher folks from different towns here in region 8 joined the turn-over ceremony on February 27, Wednesday at Balyuan Amphitheatre, Tacloban City. During the activity, BFAR distributed the five hundred fishing boats, fish nets, engine and worth 1,500 pesos cheque for gasoline to fisher folks from Basey, Samar, Sta. Rita, Samar, Tolosa, Tanauan, Palo, and Tacloban City, Leyte. With the successful result on the initiative done by BFAR, Perez was encouraged to raise the target to 20,000 units of boats for 20,000 families. Perez encouraged the donors to inform their friends to pour out more support to help the Yolanda survivors to be back on their feet again. The BFAR director guaranteed that no one will be left behind, as our President Benigno Aquino III ordered the Agriculture secretary to assure that Yolanda survivors will receive the assistance according to their needs. “Walang iwanan dito, Sama sama at tulong tulong tayong bumangon muli, babangon tayo,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said during his visit in Leyte recently. (PIA 8 with Avha H. Ebalde)

March 2, 2014 7

DA Secretary...from page 1

Upon hear ing this complaint , the Secretar y instruc ted NIA-Region 8 to conduc t on-s i te sur vey and provide immediate ac t ion to address this press ing problem on i r r igat ion. Secretar y Alcala , together with PCA Administrator Eucl ides Forbes, turned over a total of P8.1 mi l l ion wor th of var ious agr icultural projec ts and farm needs to the Yolanda hit farmers of Tanauan. These include 75 bags of hybr id seeds, 392 bags of cer t i f ied seeds, 40 bags of Registered seeds, 392 bags of

South Korean Military Contingents rebuild homes of 3 Filipino Korean war veterans in Leyte

T h e S o u t h K o r e a n M i l i t a r y C o n t i n g e n t s i n L e y t e l e d

b y C o l . C h u l W o n L e e h a s v o w e d t o r e b u i l d t h e h o m e s o f t h e t h r e e s u r v i v i n g F i l i p i n o w a r v e t e r a n s d u r i n g K o r e a n w a r . I n a s h o r t p r e s s b r i e f i n g h e l d a t t h e i r B a s e C a m p a t G o v e r n m e n t C e n t e r , P a l o L e y t e , L e e e x p r e s s e s s a d n e s s w h e n h e c o n d u c t e d a n o n s i t e s u r v e y i n e a r l y D e c e m b e r h e r e a s h e d e s c r i b e d t h e d e v a s t a t i o n w h i c h i s w o r s t

t h a n t h e d a m a g e c a u s e d d u r i n g t h e K o r e a n W a r . T h e c o m m a n d e r o f t h e “ A r a w ” C o n t i n g e n t s f r o m S o u t h K o r e a w a s e v e n s h o c k e d w h e n h e s a w t h e e x t e n t o f d a m a g e o f t h e s u p e r t y p h o o n . T h e s a m e i s t r u e w i t h t h e h o m e s o f t h e t h r e e w a r v e t e r a n s w h i c h a r e a l s o d e v a s t a t e d . T h e t h r e e w a r v e t e r a n s a r e f r o m T a c l o b a n , D a g a m i a n d C a r i g a r a , L e y t e . O n e o f t h e v e t e r a n ’ s

h o m e w a s a l r e a d y c o m p l e t e d w h i l e t h e r e p a i r w o r k o f t h e o t h e r t w o v e t e r a n ’ s h o m e s a r e s t i l l o n g o i n g . A s i d e f r o m r e b u i l d i n g t h e i r h o m e s , t h e y a l s o p r o v i d e h e a r i n g a i d s , w h e e l c h a i r s a n d g e n e r a t o r s e t s t o t h e F i l i p i n o w a r v e t e r a n s w h o s e n a m e s w e r e n o t d i s c l o s e d . S o u t h K o r e a w a n t s t o s h o w t h e i r g r a t i t u d e f o r t h e s a c r i f i c e s m a d e b y t h e F i l i p i n o w a r v e t e r a n s 6 0 y e a r s a g o d u r i n g K o r e a n w a r . T h a t ’ s w h y , t h e y p o u r o u t e v e r y t h i n g t o c o v e r t h e d e v a s t a t e d a r e a s . M e a n w h i l e , C o l . L e e e x p l a i n e d w h y t h e y c a l l e d t h e i r c o n t i n g e n t s a s “ A r a w ” w h i c h m e a n s s u n o r h o p e . A c c o r d i n g t o h i m , “ l i k e t h e s u n t h a t r i s e s a f t e r d a r k n e s s . w e w a n t t o b e a s o u r c e o f h o p e f o r t h e t y p h o o n - a f f e c t e d v i c t i m s h e r e i n L e y t e . “ O u r h o p e i s t h a t t h e p e o p l e d e v a s t a t e d b y t h e t y p h o o n c o u l d q u i c k l y r e g a i n t h e i r h o p e a n d g e t b a c k o n t h e i r f e e t a g a i n s o o n ,” L e e a d d e d . ( P I A - 8 )

BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

Urea fer t i l izer, 15 kgs vegetable seeds, and 3 , 500 p ieces HVC plant ing mater ia ls . They a lso distr ibuted 10 units hand trac tors and 500 head of ducks. Moreover, the DA Secretar y a lso led in the distr ibut ion of coconut seedl ings, and l ivestock . Fur thermore, to the del ight of those present , they raf f led of f f ive (5) carabaos with plow, 30 sets of assor ted garden tools , 20 units k napsack sprayer and f ive (5) units of pump and engine for the establ ishment of shal low tube wel ls (ST Ws) . (P IA 8)

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